Is This the Future of Travel in Cornwall? First Electric Bus Hits the Road in Falmouth

Cornwall’s greener transport vision kicks off in Falmouth, with more electric buses on the way

Cornwall’s first ever electric bus has officially gone into service in Falmouth, marking a major step in the move towards cleaner public transport across the county.

The 18-seater, zero-emission bus will now be part of the Falmouth shuttle service, run by local operator OTS as part of the Transport for Cornwall partnership. The new vehicle offers a quieter, smoother drive and is expected to help reduce carbon emissions in the town.

More electric buses to follow

This is the first of several new electric buses set to take to Cornwall’s roads in the coming months. Six more will be introduced on Go Cornwall Bus’s Route 70 on the Rame Peninsula from late June, and the entire Truro Park and Ride fleet will be replaced with electric buses from October 2025.

Dan Rogerson, Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, said:
“Our buses rack up the miles over the years and with almost a quarter of Cornwall’s carbon emissions coming from road transport, we want to reduce our impact on our environment wherever we can.

“Falmouth’s bus is just the start and work is progressing on putting in the infrastructure to run services in the Rame Peninsula and Truro city centre. It’s a step in the right direction and we’ll be looking for further funding opportunities to bring more electric buses to Cornwall.”

Backed by government and local funding

Cornwall Council secured £1.3 million from the Government’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) 2 Fund to support infrastructure and new vehicles for the Truro Park and Ride and the Falmouth service. The council is also investing a further £2.18 million.

Additional funding came from OTS, which contributed £105,000, and Falmouth Town Council, which added £5,000 towards the project.

Simon Lightwood, local transport minister, said:
“I’m thrilled that communities across Cornwall will soon benefit from greener, cleaner bus services thanks to the Government’s £1.3 million funding package. This includes a brand-new eco-friendly bus for Falmouth and a complete upgrade of the Truro park and ride service.

“With the upcoming Bus Services Bill, passengers can look forward to more reliable journeys, greater local control, and the protection of essential routes. Investing in better buses not only supports jobs and strengthens the economy, but it also helps us build a more sustainable future as we deliver the Plan for Change.”

Local pride in going electric

Craig George from OTS said:
“We are very excited to bring Cornwall’s first electric bus to our service 60 in Falmouth, especially as the route operates directly through the bustling town centre.

“It has been a really positive experience to work with Cornwall Council, Falmouth Town Council and the Department for Transport who proactively share our vision to deliver cleaner buses for the benefit of all in our local community. To deliver the first vehicle in service to come from this larger partnership project is simply the icing on the cake and we’re very proud to be leading the charge towards the future of bus travel.”

Councillor Alan Jewell, Falmouth town mayor, added:
“The arrival of Falmouth’s first electric bus is a welcome step forward and forms part of a wider set of green initiatives we’ve supported as a Town Council. It’s a practical investment that will contribute to reducing emissions and improving air quality in the town.

“We’re pleased to have worked alongside Cornwall Council and OTS to help deliver this project, and we remain committed to making sensible, long-term improvements for the benefit of residents and visitors.”

Investment stretches beyond Falmouth

Funding for the Rame Peninsula electric bus service is part of a wider £31.87 million ZEBRA 2 funding bid, led by Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Citybus, part of the Go-Ahead group.

Cornwall Council and Plymouth City Council together are contributing £1.94 million, with Plymouth Citybus investing £19.6 million and the Department for Transport supplying £10.34 million.